It’s hard to believe that we’re almost to the halfway point of 2025. It feels like I’d only just left Las Vegas after ringing in the New Year there this past December/January, but here we are! Summer is essentially underway and it’s about that time for me to take pause, acknowledge my progress (while still recognizing that there is still always work to be done!) and express some gratitude for the abundance of joy and opportunities this year has given me so far – and it’s not even close to being over yet!
It’s also time for me to do a little “check in” on the resolutions I’d set for myself at the end of 2024 to see what, if any, have been accomplished at this point – and what I can still try to tackle in the second half of this year.
The first half of 2025 has been spent in the company of my family and dear friends in and around all corners of New England – exploring new places, dining at establishments I’d never been to before, and collaborating with unique and exciting brands and companies when I wasn’t working my full-time job, or starting my new weekly radio gig that I absolutely love, and making international travel plans that brought me to places like the Canadian border when it came time to get my Global Entry sorted out.
I commemorated and paid proper respects to important time markers during the beginning of this year, some more painful than others – like the celebratory one-year anniversary of my boyfriend’s courtroom victory, or the devastating five year anniversary of the world losing one of it’s brightest and most beautiful lights. These dates often served as a reminder that time is fleeting and that every day is a blessing and should be treated as such – regardless of whether or not the day itself is a great or productive one.
And it seems sort of fitting that I would wind down the first half of the year with an extended and absolutely amazing stay by Lake Garda in Northern Italy to help ground me, relax me, and remind me of that most beloved live-every-day-to-the-fullest mentality as I get ready to face the second half of 2025 head-on.
All of that being said, it’s time to revisit the handful of resolutions I’d made while getting ready to celebrate the arrival of 2025 in Sin City Style! As a reminder to you all (and to myself, of course) – this is what I’d jotted down:
- Take my health seriously (and get into better shape once and for all!)
- Potentially relocate.
- Put my passport to good use.
- Save a little more money.
Although I’d definitely relaxed my healthy eating habits in Italy and now have to work just a little harder to shave off the most fun and miniscule of “Vacay Weight” I’d gained during my trip, I’m quite proud of myself for the initiative I’ve taken on living a healthier lifestyle in 2025. I go to the gym regularly, I’m mindful of what I’m putting into my body (but I also don’t deprive myself of the occasional treat or cheat day, either! There’s no sense in needlessly punishing myself!), I get a good amount of sleep most nights – and I’m dedicated to maintaining an effective skin and hair care routine based on the climate and my concerns at any given time.
While I’m still not at my final goal in terms of weight and muscle development, the more I stick with it the more I know that the goal isn’t an impossibility – and that I’m working towards it in a healthy, realistic way without setting harmful expectations or overdoing it. I’m confident that I’ll be even closer to those goals, if not having reached them in their entirety – by the end of the year!
In terms of relocating, that’s one goal that I may have to push into 2026. I recently renewed my lease for another year as the options of where I could move to were slim pickings, to say the least. Although I’m not a huge fan of my landlord, his business “ethics”, the condition of my building (outside of my own apartment, anyway) or the behavior of some of the other people that reside alongside Dan and I’s respective spaces – my apartment itself has so many of my personal touches to it – and it still feels very much like home when I walk through the door. It’s been hard to give that up – especially since it’s still a very affordable option here in the Pioneer Valley!
However, I plan on really and seriously looking around throughout the second half of 2025 to see what else is out there – if not in Western Massachusetts, then maybe back East, or even out of state. While I’m still not quite ready to plant concrete roots and purchase a house at this time (but I’m getting there. I’m just so picky!) – I’m hopeful I can find another “stepping stone” apartment to make my own while I eye that goal in the future. We’ll just have to wait and see!
With my passport ready to go and my obtaining both TSA Pre-Check and Global Entry, the sky has really been the limit for me. My trip to Italy reignited the “Travel Spark” within me and I’ve found myself looking up things to do in Paris, Ireland and Iceland – among many others! I’ve still got plenty of PTO left over at my job, as well as the capability to work fully remote if I wanted to while abroad, so I’m excited to plan my next trip and continue putting my passport to good use!
And finally, much like my relaxed attitude about food in Italy, I also splurged a bit when it came to buying gifts to bring home with me – but I’m happy to report my finances are stable and that I’ve been able to put away more and more money in the bank each week in the case of an emergency or “rainy day” (or to fund those aforementioned international trips I was just talking about!)
I’ve also made it a point to review and cancel any unused/unnecessary and costly subscription and streaming services I’d forgotten I’d enrolled in or signed up for – which has saved me a lot of money I otherwise would have missed. I highly recommend that everyone reviews their auto-payments each month to see if they’re actually utilizing what they’re paying for!
While there’s still work to be done towards this resolution, which I’d added after some unexpected expenses popped up in the second half of 2024 – it’s nice to feel confident and secure that I’m getting where I need to be on this one, too!
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And there we have it – another resolutions check-in done, in the books and ready to join the previous ones I’ve conducted after I first began writing ‘Coffee & Chiffon‘! I really do love putting together these types of posts every June/July because I find that they get me to refocus on the goals and initiatives I’d set for myself so that I can continue to work towards them with a refreshed and revitalized mindset.
I’m sending out all the best and most positive vibes and wishes to anyone and everyone out there who are still working towards any resolutions or goals they also set for themselves in 2025. I know it’s not always easy, and can be downright disappointing and frustrating at times – but there’s still so much time left in this year to make those aspirations a reality.
Just remember to acknowledge and honor all of the progress you’ve been making along the way!
Enjoy your weekend, everyone! See you all on Monday!
xo
Coffee & Chiffon 